1. The McArthur litigation: what was alleged?

Davis McArthur, through his court-appointed guardian Dana McArthur, alleged that an August 27, 2019 encounter with Adel police and Cook County officials deprived him of medical care during a psychiatric crisis. The complaint challenged the handling of an involuntary Form 1013 transport order, an arrest, and subsequent jail confinement. These were allegations made by plaintiffs, not factual findings after trial.

McArthur first filed a federal action in August 2022 (No. 7:22-cv-00085). That action was dismissed without prejudice in September 2023 after a failure to effect timely service. A second case, McArthur v. Castleberry (No. 7:23-cv-00105), was filed September 25, 2023 and named Chad Castleberry among other defendants.

What the federal judge actually decided

On June 4, 2024, U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell granted motions to dismiss. The court concluded the federal civil-rights claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983 were barred by the applicable statute of limitations and dismissed those claims with prejudice. It dismissed other claims, including public-accommodation discrimination and requests for injunctive and declaratory relief, without prejudice for pleading deficiencies. The ruling was procedural and legal; it was not a jury determination resolving the factual accusations.

Read the June 4, 2024 federal order ↗ · First federal docket (2022) ↗ · Original SOS McArthur case archive ↗

Other Castleberry-related litigation

Separate reporting by the Adel News Tribune described a lawsuit brought by Gary Thomas Jr. alleging excessive force during a June 2020 encounter with Adel officers. Castleberry was named among the defendants. The filing of a complaint does not establish liability, and this page does not assert a final outcome for that separate suit. Read local coverage ↗

2. The Moultrie open-records dispute

In July and August 2024, Shields of Shame exchanged correspondence with City Clerk Bonnie Kudela and contacted Police Chief Chad Castleberry concerning a request for personnel and video records. The outlet objected to the city’s stated practice of making responsive material available for inspection or pickup rather than sending it by email or mail. The city clerk’s email described seven videos, a 264-page personnel file and an estimated fee approaching $100, subject to additional work.

Shields of Shame filed a complaint with the Georgia Attorney General’s office on August 2, 2024, contending that the city’s approach created improper barriers to records access. This is the requester’s documented position; it is not proof of an Open Records Act violation or a finding against Kudela or Castleberry. The full email record lets readers evaluate what the city said and how the requester responded.

3. Original records and exhibits

4. Video archive

“Locked Up” for celebrating freedom of speech in Moultrie

Lawsuit filed — Moultrie arrest update

The two videos are preserved from the original page. Their connection to specific legal proceedings should be evaluated independently; inclusion here does not establish the underlying allegations.

5. What records should the public request?

To examine the McArthur matter, obtain the complete court dockets and orders, underlying police incident reports, 2019 transport paperwork, relevant dispatch records and policies, and any available administrative findings. For Moultrie, request the original public-records request, acknowledgment, fee calculation, any written policy governing delivery methods, a records inventory and the final production or denial. Georgia’s Open Records Act provides a framework for timely responses and itemized charges, but specific delivery disputes depend on the records, agency capabilities and governing law.

Georgia Open Records Act § 50-18-71 ↗ · Background: Kudela becomes city clerk ↗